CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Interstat) — Braden Atkinson passed for 443 yards and three touchdowns as Mercer outlasted Western Carolina 49-47 on Saturday at E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The Bears survived a late rally after the Catamounts’ 33-yard field goal attempt as time expired missed wide. Taron Dickens threw for 551 yards and seven touchdowns in the losing effort for Western Carolina. Mercer improved to 8-1, while Western Carolina fell to 6-4.